No Strings Attached

Chapter 61

It seemed that lan had always known that it was his mother who had nearly been the end of Clara’s father, and ho

hadn’t said a word to her about it. He’d played along with her act in front of her dad, not out of sympathy for her, but to lighten his mother’s burden of guilt. After all, if her father had died, Leonora would have been on the hook for some serious legal trouble.

Clara felt a chill that started at her crown and crept all the way down to her toes. The smidge of fondness she’d been harboring for lan over the past few days evaporated with those revelations. She let out a bitter, self–deprecating chuckle, grabbed the documents, and headed back to her office.

No sooner had she walked in than Nicole’s voice, dripping with sarcasm, hit her ears, “Clinging to Mr. Hayes‘ coattails now, are we? Still care about the chump change I owe you?

Clara quickly snapped out of her previous mindset. With a cold laugh, she shot back, “You could always pay up, or we can settle this in court.”

“Clara, you’re ruthless. Just send me your card details, and I’ll transfer the money.” Nicole grudgingly wired the money to Clara and spat out venomously, “Clara, the court date’s coming up on the third. If you get convicted, you can kiss your job goodbye. The company has a clear policy break the law and you’re out on your ear, no second chances.”

–

eyes were fixed on her phone, confirming the incoming transaction with a sly

onto the balcony and dialed

recent income records of Nicole and her boyfriend? I

cool two million during his game stream yesterday from someone who’s never been seen in that chatroom before,

I was thinking. He gets to keep half of that two million tip. Nicole transferred the money to me today. If we can trace this mystery benefactor, we’ve got our

footage. He probably edited it

and reach out.

created a new account and made contact with Kaleb. Just as she predicted,

to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town. Kaleb wanted to make the exchange there: cash for the